I don't know where you guys are coming up that Wellington never was defeated.

The siege of Burgos was a disaster.This was his first full-scale command, and he blew it with incompetance. He took only 13 engineers and 8 24-cannon, and was kicked in the butt hard by the french. He had to call of the siege when he saw he was unable to take it.

But, considering his later performance, that's where he gets my vote. But, he did lose a battle.

I don't know where you guys are coming up that Wellington never was defeated.

The siege of Burgos was a disaster.This was his first full-scale command, and he blew it with incompetance. He took only 13 engineers and 8 24-cannon, and was kicked in the butt hard by the french. He had to call of the siege when he saw he was unable to take it.

But, considering his later performance, that's where he gets my vote. But, he did lose a battle.

Burgos was in 1812, Salamanca, earlier in 1812, who commanded there? Assaye in India who commanded there? Wellington commanded the British army in the Peninsular from 1809, the only army Britain had then on the continent. And Burgos was a siege not a battle.
And the taking of Badajoz and Cuidad Rodrigo earlier in 1812, not bad for an incompetent, the repulse of Massena at Torres Vedras in 1810 where he kicked Massena's arse, and forced his army back with starvation, not bad for the small army and the Spanish and Portuguese allies he had.

__________________'First gain the victory and then make the best use of it you can.'

I agree. I really thought this would be a close battle. Like I said before, the only reason anyone outside of England remembers Wellington is because he had the fortune of Napoleon (at his weakest) deciding to fight him at Waterloo.

Actually, I think the opposite is true (except perhaps among those who only read about war), Wellington is probably better known for his leadership of the Empire in the first half of the 19th and piloting it rise to it greatest strength. Waterloo is just one episode in the man's career and arguably not his finest moment.

__________________The Purist

Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assault of thoughts on the unthinking - John Maynard Keynes.

I don't know where you guys are coming up that Wellington never was defeated.

The siege of Burgos was a disaster.This was his first full-scale command, and he blew it with incompetance. He took only 13 engineers and 8 24-cannon, and was kicked in the butt hard by the french. He had to call of the siege when he saw he was unable to take it.

But, considering his later performance, that's where he gets my vote. But, he
es es of cdid lose a battle.

Yes you're of course quite right. But I do wish you Americans would improve your spelling- impressed as I am by your spelling bees- and particularly your use of 'of' and 'off'.

It's quite off putting and you do really need to get a grip on our common language and heritage.

__________________Tactics are based on Weapons... Strategy on Movement... and Movement on Supply.
(J. F. C. Fuller 1878-1966)

__________________
For despite the silly sayings about violence never settling anything, history IS changed on the battlefield: ask the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
-Jerry Pournelle-
Introduction to 'Hammer's Slammers'

__________________ I apologize for not revealing my true feelings. I apologize, sir, for not telling you sooner that you're a degenerate, sadistic old man. AND YOU CAN GO TO HELL BEFORE I APOLOGIZE TO YOU NOW OR EVER AGAIN!- Col. Dax

Some, maybe 10 or 20.
If that is any indication, his logistical skill and abilities cut the wars down to a year or two.

__________________
For despite the silly sayings about violence never settling anything, history IS changed on the battlefield: ask the National Socialist German Workers' Party.
-Jerry Pournelle-
Introduction to 'Hammer's Slammers'